2023 CURE Children's Hospital of Uganda Annual Report

Ezra, treated for hydrocephalus, smiles in the ward at CURE Uganda.

PURPOSE

To provide world-class surgical care to the world’s most vulnerable children for the proclamation and demonstration of the gospel

VISION

A world where children living with disabilities reach their full potential through God’s hope and healing

MISSION

To heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God — Luke 9:2

The numbers and statistics cited throughout this report reflect CURE’s Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), which ran from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.

The surgical team transfers a patient to the post-anesthesia care unit after neurosurgery.

TA LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Tim Erickson

hank you for your dedication to the mission of CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda (CURE Uganda). Fiscal year 2023 made history as we successfully treated more children than ever before!

Here are some key impact numbers to celebrate:

• Brain surgeries: 1,935

• Inpatient admissions: 2,125

• Outpatients treated at the hospital and mobile clinics: 10,155

• People reached with the gospel: 41,688

CURE Uganda has become recognized as a center of excellence in pediatric neurosurgery and is building neurosurgical capacity for health systems around the world. Our CURE Neuro fellowship training program and College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) neurosurgery training rotations are ensuring a future where no child’s neurological conditions go untreated.

Over the years, we’ve witnessed an influx of patients from South Sudan to CURE Uganda for surgery and medical reviews. This past year, we launched a pioneering mobile clinic in Juba, South Sudan, through a partnership with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and USRATUNA Rehabilitation Center. Our dedicated team initiated this unique project to expand access to urgent medical care for vulnerable children with neurosurgical conditions like hydrocephalus and spina bifida.

We were also thrilled to open our new 18-bed intensive care unit (ICU)—the country’s largest specialized pediatric ICU—emphasizing our commitment to advancing quality patient care. The ICU includes a central monitoring system that provides real-time patient data and empowers teams to deliver wellinformed interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes and workflow efficiency.

Under God’s hand, our spiritual ministry programs reached 41,688 people with the gospel, with 1,911 placing their faith in Christ. It has been a fruitful year of integrating spiritual ministry into all we do and fulfilling our mission of “healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom of God.”

Despite these accomplishments, countless children are still born each year with treatable neurosurgical conditions and have no access to the specialized care they urgently need. Much more work is required to reach these precious children.

Thank you for standing with us in this lifesaving mission!

Yours in service,

Timothy C. Erickson, MBA Executive Director

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda

OVERVIEW FISCAL YEAR 2023

10,155

715

115,708 total since inception in 46 events this year

1,911

23,491 total since inception

41,688

155,705 total since inception

1,935 IN FY23 24,948 total since inception

59

68

162

OUR NETWORK

CURE Uganda is part of CURE International, a Christian nonprofit organization that operates a global network of charitable children’s hospitals pairing world-class surgical care and counseling to serve children living with treatable disabilities and their families.

UGANDA

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda

Cities with CURE mobile clinics

SOUTH SUDAN

Davao City PHILIPPINES

Niamey NIGER Addis Ababa ETHIOPIA

Lusaka ZAMBIA

Blantyre MALAWI

Bulawayo ZIMBABWE

Mbale

Jinja Kampala

Mbarara

Gulu

Juba

Lira

UGANDA

Kijabe KENYA

Mbale UGANDA

BUILDING THE FUTURE

Empowering Medical Heroes: CURE Uganda’s Neurosurgery Training Program (CURE Neuro)

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda (CURE Uganda) is at the forefront of pediatric neurosurgery. Every year, we perform over 1,900 brain surgeries, saving the lives of children in sub-Saharan Africa who would otherwise go untreated.

One inspiring success story comes from Dr. Ahmed Nasir Abdirahman Omar, a neurosurgeon from Kenya with Somali heritage. As a teenager, he knew he wanted to pursue neurosurgery.

CURE Uganda not only provides lifesaving surgeries but also trains local neurosurgeons like Dr. Omar in advanced procedures like endoscopic third ventriculostomy and choroid

plexus coagulation (ETV/CPC). ETV involves creating a new drainage path in the brain to help excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow out, while CPC reduces CSF production by stopping a specific part of the brain from making too much fluid.

After completing six weeks of training under the CURE Neuro program, Dr. Omar was so inspired by CURE’s compassionate care and

the importance of ETV in treating hydrocephalus that he has decided to start a pediatric hydrocephalus program at the refugee camps for disadvantaged kids in Northern Kenya.

Our commitment to training and empowering doctors like Dr. Omar is essential to addressing the challenges faced in the region and improving healthcare outcomes for countless children.

CURE Uganda Medical Director Dr. Emmanuel Wegoye (right), Dr. Omar (center), and Operating Room Nurse Eric Nangoshya (left) perform an ETV/CPC procedure.

CURE UGANDA’S NEW INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Redefining Pediatric Neurosurgical Care

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda (CURE Uganda), known globally for our neurosurgical expertise, has treated children with hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and brain tumors for over two decades. In September 2022, the hospital opened a specialized pediatric intensive care unit (ICU).

Since opening, the ICU has transformed countless young lives and set new standards for serving children with neurological conditions for generations to come. CURE Uganda, which previously struggled with an overcrowded

ICU, has significantly expanded its capacity to provide lifesaving care. Every child who has surgery at the hospital is required to spend some time in the ICU.

WORLD-CLASS MEDICAL CARE

The state-of-the-art building houses 18 fully equipped beds and has significantly boosted the hospital’s critical care capabilities. It features modern amenities like piped oxygen, medical air, advanced ventilators, and infusion pumps. As the largest pediatric ICU in Uganda, it has become a beacon of hope for children with complex neurosurgical conditions.

Tim Erickson, Executive Director of CURE Uganda, expressed his enthusiasm for the hospital’s improved capabilities, stating, “Our capacity to perform more surgeries each day while still providing critical care services has expanded significantly. We have modernized and increased our ICU’s capacity by more than 80 percent for treating our most vulnerable patients.”

This remarkable progress is a testament to the medical staff’s dedication and leadership and the invaluable support of our generous donors.

Our capacity to perform more surgeries each day while still providing critical care services has expanded significantly. We have modernized and increased our ICU’s capacity by more than 80 percent for treating our most vulnerable patients.”

—Tim Erickson

Nurse Deborah Ejang (right) and a caretaker (left) attend to an ICU patient.

SAVING LIVES

One child who benefited from CURE Uganda’s highquality care was Isaac. Isaac’s father, Sipriano, rushed him to CURE on a Friday night after debilitating headaches left him unable to eat and barely able to walk. Realizing the critical nature of Isaac’s condition, the quick-working medical team performed a CT scan and diagnosed him with a life-threatening brain tumor.

The team then performed lifesaving surgery on Isaac that night and removed the tumor. “Thanks for saving my son’s life,” says Sipriano. “He would be no more if it wasn’t for your quick response. And special thanks to the donors for their love and care toward the vulnerable. May their pockets never go dry.”

Isaac spent several weeks at CURE and underwent another procedure due to complications. While there, he received much-needed spiritual care from the ministry team, who prayed over him and took him

to chapel, where he thanked God for saving his life. Today, Isaac is a strong, healthy young man who loves playing soccer and has returned to school.

A BRIGHTER FUTURE: CURE UGANDA’S ONGOING COMMITMENT

One year since the inauguration of the specialized pediatric ICU building, CURE Uganda remains a shining example of how vision, commitment, and compassionate care can transform the lives of children made vulnerable by disability.

With renewed purpose and determination, the hospital looks to the future, equipped to bring lifesaving surgical care to even more children in need. As we fulfill our mission, we reaffirm our commitment to providing quality healthcare to the most vulnerable, ensuring that these children know they are truly special to God.

Paulo Odongo, a primary care nurse, attends to Isaac in the new ICU.

Isaac after surgery for a brain tumor.

TRIUMPH OF HOPE

How Surgery Transformed a Young Life

Stories of resilience and triumph shine as beacons of hope amid medical challenges. This is the story of Chemtai and her son Ashim, whose battle against a debilitating illness led them to the doors of CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda (CURE Uganda).

Chemtai’s unwavering faith and the transformative care provided by CURE Uganda became a turning point in Ashim’s life, steering him away from the clutches of a grave condition.

The journey began when Ashim fell severely ill, marked by vomiting, paralysis on one side, uncontrolled saliva flow, and inconsolable crying. “When he started, he would cry for hours without stopping,” Chemtai recalls. It was a distressing scene no parent should ever witness.

Chemtai and her family turned to a local hospital for a solution. However, the medical intervention there proved insufficient. “He [Ashim] couldn’t see, couldn’t talk,” Chemtai remembers.

With Ashim’s condition deteriorating, his uncle suggested CURE Uganda as a potential lifeline. “I was working at CURE, but CURE, they can even treat things like this,” he reassured Chemtai. With renewed determination, Chemtai and her family gathered resources to make their way to CURE Uganda.

A DIAGNOSIS THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Upon reaching the hospital, hope emerged. Ashim underwent a thorough scan, which revealed a brain tumor as the underlying cause of his illness. “I am delighted with CURE because they scanned him and got that brain tumor,” Chemtai shares gratefully.

The diagnosis paved the way for a focused treatment plan.

Chemtai recalls the overwhelming emotions she experienced before Ashim’s operation. “I gained courage and thought of how worse it would have been if we were at home and not at CURE,” she says. The power of prayer and the medical team’s support kept her strong.

The moments leading up to Ashim’s surgery were a whirlwind of emotions. Chemtai remembers talking to her son before the procedure. “Ashim, do you know that you are going to be operated on? If they remove the thing in your head, you can return to school,” she told him gently, promising a brighter future. As Ashim was wheeled into the operating room, Chemtai’s heart swelled with hope and fear—a blend of emotions only a mother could comprehend.

Ashim now has plenty of reasons to smile after successful surgery at CURE Uganda.

Ashim stands with his mother, Chemtai, and the rest of his family outside their home.

Hours later, Ashim emerged from the operating room. Chemtai recalls the joyous moment in the intensive care unit when she was informed that her son was awake and she could speak to him. The weight of uncertainty lifted as her prayers were answered.

ASHIM’S JOURNEY TO RECOVERY

Ashim is now doing well! He is back in school. He also spends a lot of time playing with his cousins and other kids who live in his area. He can once again help with chores at home, including fetching water from a borehole nearby. Besides the scar on his head, it’s not evident that Ashim had a brain tumor years ago.

With his illness behind him, Ashim is looking ahead to the future and wants to help others. “I want to become a doctor,” he says, “so I treat those ones that are suffering the way I suffered.”

Ashim’s journey from illness to recovery is a testament to the power of determination and family support. And CURE’s commitment to comprehensive treatment underscores the incredible impact of our worldclass surgical care. We are grateful for the donor support from our local stakeholders who make this life-changing work possible. Your contributions continue to transform lives like Ashim’s every day.

As Chemtai aptly says, “I am very grateful for what CURE has done for my son.” In the tapestry of life’s challenges, stories like Ashim’s illuminate a path of hope, reminding us that healing and transformation are possible even in the darkest hours.

After surgery to remove a brain tumor at CURE, Ashim is well enough to help with chores, including fetching water.

FINANCIAL ACTIVITY

CURE Children’s Hospital of Uganda Statement of Comprehensive Income FY2023

BOARD MEMBERS

Co-Chairpersons:

The Honorable Janet Museveni

First Lady of Uganda & Member of Parliament

Dr. Patrick Bitature Chairman, SIMBA Corporation

Mr. Timothy Erickson, MBA

Board Secretary & Treasurer Executive Director, CURE Uganda

Ret. Ambassador

Angelina Wapakabulo

Ret. High Commissioner to Kenya

Mr. Martin Muhwezi, MBA Financial Planner

Dr. Emmanuel Wegoye

Medical Director & Neurosurgeon, CURE Uganda

Pastor Fred Wangwa

Spiritual Director, CURE Uganda

Mr. Peter Kyalo

Chief Program Officer, CURE International

CURE Uganda staff gathered in front of the hospital.

PARTNERSHIPS

Acacia Community Church (Jinja)

Adina Foundation (Lira)

African Humanitarian Action

AVSI Uganda (Gulu)

Bulamu Health Care International

CFAO Motors Limited (Toyota Uganda)

Child Care Africa - CCA

Child-Help International

Christian Services International

College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA)

Ekisa Ministries and Children’s Home

Gulu Regional Referral

Indian Women Association

International Federation of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

JMS - Joint Medical Stores

Katalemwa Cheshire Home for Rehabilitation Services

Lira Medical Center

Ministry of Health Uganda

Mission Aviation Fellowship, Uganda

Office of the First Lady of Uganda

Patrick and Carol Bitature Foundation

Rotaract Club of Mbale Uptown

Rotary Club Kampala Muyenga Breeze

Ruharo Mission Hospital (Mbarara)

SHAU - Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Uganda

Smile Train

Toto Africa

Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau

UMEME Uganda

USRATUNA Rehabilitation Center

JOIN US

REFER A CHILD

If you know of a child who could benefit from the services offered by CURE Uganda, please contact us or bring the child to our on-site clinic during operating hours:

Monday–Friday 8:00-17:00

Saturday–Sunday 9:00-13:00

GIVE PRAY

All medical care is provided through the generous contribution of CURE donors, our nonprofit partners, and insurance programs. Children will be treated by our clinical team without charge or debt created. If you are interested in sponsoring a child’s surgery, please make a donation today at uganda.cure.org/donate.

We believe that God alone is the source of changed lives and transformed communities. Please join us in asking for God’s healing for the children we serve.

Address

Plot 97-105, Bugwere Rd

Mbale, Uganda

Hospital Phone

+256 45 4435273

Website uganda.cure.org

Email info@cureuganda.org

Socials

@cure.uganda

facebook.com/cureuganda

@CUREuganda

Donate uganda.cure.org/donate